Victoria Azarenka received a rare gift from world No. 1 Serena Williams, and Rafael Nadal felled giant John Isner in entertaining finals on Sunday at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Williams’ dominant hardcourt summer hit a speed bump in the Cincy final when in the third-set tiebreak she instead gift-wrapped the title for the world No. 2 from Belarus.

During an extended point late in the third-set tiebreak that saw Azarenka near the net tracking a ball that left a completely open court, Williams instead of bunting it into the open court guided a two-handed backhand long.

After the point Williams nearly slammed her racquet into the backstop. On the next point Williams threw in a nervous double fault, then on match point made an unforced error, a forehand into the net giving Azarenka the championship 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(6).

“I just felt really off this whole week, but I was surprised to be in the final and surprised to be doing well,” Williams said. “So I don’t know, there’s a few factors. I think what matters most was just fighting the whole time and survived to the end.”

It was the first time Azarenka beat a reigning world No. 1 since beating the younger Williams sister in Miami in 2009.

In the men’s final former world No. 1 Rafael Nadal beat John Isner at his own game, topping the American in two consecutive tiebreaks 7-6(8), 7-6(3) for his first Cincinnati title.

Nadal is now 15-0 on hardcourts in 2013, and along with Novak Djokovic is now the only player to win five Masters titles in one season. After winning in Montreal last week it is also the only time Nadal has won hardcourt titles in back-to-back weeks.

Nadal will now rise to the No. 2 ranking.

“It means a lot, being able to win two straight titles, two Masters 1000 on hard back to back is just amazing for me,” Nadal said. “I never did something like this in all my career. So it was an emotional moment for so many different facts.”

Isner fell to 2-2 in finals this year.

“I played extremely well all week,” Isner said. “Thought I played well again today. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t good enough. As I said on the court, [I'm] going to hold my head up high after today’s match and after this whole week. But Rafa was better than me today.”

I’ve always said the people who stay tough and take advantage of Serena’s sloppy play, end up winning …it requires mental fortitude, absolute focus & Serena has to be in her worst form. Vika did that today and edged out Serena, great show for the WTA.

Serena can be her own worst enemy sometimes, letting her moods get in the way of her tennis. It’s nothing to see her cry, scream, or simply sulk when she feels she’s on the losing end of a match. It just seems like odd behavior from such a dominant #1.

Having won Montreal and Cincinnati back-to-back, the question on everybody’s mind is will Rafa achieve the triple by winning the US Open too ? My memory ditches me, but I presume that it is a unique feat not done before in Tennis and Nadal by winning the US Open will be setting a new record which will be just another feather in his already well decorated cap. What a year this man has had in 2013 and the underlining here is that he did not even take part in the Australian Open and skipped tournaments in the beginning of the year. It is an invincible year so far by any stretch of imagination and I do not see a major threat for him in the US Open either. May be Novak alone can spring a surprise if he reaches that stage as Rafa by virtue of winning this tournament has now become the new World No.2.

“But that’s all in the future. For now, Nadal has won twenty-six Masters 1000 titles, including a record-equalling five this season. It’s an accomplishment that is only enhanced by recalling that none of the five were Monte Carlo, which otherwise exists only that he might augment his tally by one each year. Aside from that, the only other Masters event Nadal hasn’t won this year was Miami, which he didn’t play. In order to break the record, which was only set two years ago by Djokovic, Nadal will have to win either Shanghai or Paris. History suggests that he is unlikely to do so. Then again, the Spaniard has already spent the season showing history just where it can shove its suggestions.”

Michael, it’s a bit silly to fail to see a “major threat” for Rafa. Yes, he is having one of the best seasons in recent memory if you only look at the events he played and ignore Wimbledon. But just because he barely squeaked by Roger, Isner, Djokovic, and even Isner in recent weeks, it doesn’t follow that suddenly none of them and no one else is a threat to beat him. (Any more than if Roger had managed to take him out – as he oughta have done – he would be the only favorite at the USO!) For one thing, Andy M is playing better than ever before, and while he (as usual) has consistency problems from week to week, he’s one of those guys who plays better against better opposition. I’d say he’s got a better than even chance against Rafa at the USO.

I am going by the present form of Rafa and I tip him to win the US Open too since both Novak and Andy are not looking very sharp judging the way they played in Montreal and Cincinnati. Ofcourse, upsets are always possible in Tennis and we should give room for it. Roger did almost beat Rafa, but he couldn’t get the job done and I can see his disappointment clearly when he signed off after the match. But the silver lining for Rafa there was that Roger was playing his very best Tennis, but still it wasn’t enough. He stole the match from Roger somehow with his consistency as is often the case in this much cherished and celebrated rivalry. If you ask me the dark horse at US Open, I would root for Del Potro all the way.

Isner in my opinion may cause a few upsets along the way, but will not be good enough to win a Major by a long shot. I remember the dog’s fight he had with Rafa at the French in 2010 when he stretched him to five sets. He is a vastly improved player today and has toned up his all round game. He is not just a serving wonder. But, still he has some miles to go to be counted in my opinion. I honestly think he cannot complete the job just like say Del Potro. But, who knows. Did anybody predict Bartoli to win Wimbledon ? It happened and therefore nothing is for certain.

Rafa going back to number 2 in the rankings makes the USO very interesting,the question mark will be which side of the draw Andy will fall on as Novak and Rafa been ranked 1 and 2 means that they wont face each other now until the final,with andy and Rafa been my two favorite players im hoping from a selfish point of view that they are on opposite sides of the draw,as it gives them the chance to meet in the final,obviously im not taking it for granted that they will both get that far,not only that we have never had a Andy/Rafa final in a GS as yet.

Congrats to John Isner whos had a great week making the finals at Cincy,and beating two top 5 players in Novak and Delpo,he really pushed Rafa with some fabulous serving yesterday,such a nice guy too,i hope he has a good run at the USO,one things for sure nobody will want him on their side of the draw.

Forgot to say congrats to Vika too,a refreshing change to see a player that can go toe to toe with Serena,these two are evenly matched,and this rivalry IMO is much more interesting than the Maria/Serena rivalry,which for me is too lopsided now.

Rafa being ranked 2 isnt actually a change from the last 2 Slams for the fans. One of the semis will be stacked.
On the other hand, its a change for Andy, who know is guaranteed to face two brutal challenges.

“Having won Montreal and Cincinnati back-to-back, the question on everybody’s mind is will Rafa achieve the triple by winning the US Open too ? My memory ditches me, but I presume that it is a unique feat not done before in Tennis and Nadal by winning the US Open will be setting a new record which will be just another feather in his already well decorated cap.”

Roddick did this feat in 2003. It hasn’t been repeated since. In fact no one has won the Canada-Cincy double since then. It’s going to be tough. He has only one week to rest.

So the “top 4″ – actual rather than, you know, the Top 4 – will have to meet variously Federer, Gasquet, del Potro, Berdych.

Gasquet will be everybody’s favourite pigeon in this context. Other than that, Ferrer will hope to avoid Federer and del Potro, Murray will hope he’s not drawn against Berdych (unless he’s feeling in the mood for revenge),Djokovic and Nadal will be relieved not to face del Potro yet. That’s my best guess.

serena was oddly subdued in the final match even lackadaisical at some points. the vibe of indifference was such a contrast from the fist clenching c’mons she usually peppers into her matches. the tiebreaker was great drama though. it see sawed back and forth and you really had no idea who was going to pull out the win. congrats to azarenka.

murray has really fallen off the map this hard court swing. not really looking like a contender to follow up on his USO title.

I am not sure, if Fed would gets to play the top 4 at the US Open. He won only 2 matches going into the tournament. And was struggling against with a veteran at Cincy. At the Open, he has to play in 5 sets. Other players would be able to defeat him.

Rafa is on fire right now. If he stays healthy, he’s the man to beat at the USO. Even tough many people think Murray, Djoker and Federer have a shot, we all know that players like Isner have a chance to pull an upset on these guys. Murray has been playing well and will go far, but Djoker is really mentally out of it, he’s struggled all year, and Federer has no shot at making the finals, he has a lingering injury and any match that goes the distance, he can’t keep up his energy level like he used to. Federer still has the shots, but in this young man’s game he can’t break on the ball anymore.

Giles it goes without saying,i dont have to say anything,i am always overjoyed anytime Rafa wins a title,but i actually said it on the other thread,and it makes it all the sweeter especially when its a HC title,and especially a title hes never won :-))..

^ Nadal’s won 2013 Emirates Airline US Open Series men’s title. Isner pulled out of Winston-Salem with a hip injury. Hope the injury’s not too serious. The big guy otherwise looks good for a deep run at the Open (I hope).

“One of Nadal’s many strengths is to put his opponent first and get inside his head to figure out what he is anticipating, staying a step ahead with the patterns during the match.

Nadal’s successful campaigns at Roland Garros, where he has won eight times, are built around winning ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events in Monte Carlo, Rome and Madrid. His clay-court confidence especially comes from saving break points so he arrives in Paris feeling like Superman. Nadal has now won successive ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles in Montreal and Cincinnati and opponents have only managed to convert exactly 4/18 in both events (8/36 total = 22%). There is a certain sense of déjà vu in Nadal’s preparation as he heads to New York searching for his 13th career Grand Slam championship title.”

Giles—three finals in Miami
2005 federer lost leading two sets to love (old days where finals were best of five)
2008 davydenko (where he got wiped clean the least competitive of all!)
2011 djokovic lost in Third set tiebreak very nice match though

Winning a second USO,would get Rafa closer to a second career GS,winning that and a second AO,would give him a second career GS,only achieved by Laver i believe?winning another AO and USO,and another Olympic gold medal in 3 years would give him 2 Golden GSs,winning Shanghai,Paris,Miami,and a WTF,would mean he would have the full set,all ifs and buts i know,but surely not out of the realms of possibility,one would say,and all im doing is speculating before anyone choses to attack me.

@hippy chic, Double Career Golden Slams, that’s what I’m secretly (no longer secret) hoping for Rafa. The GCS might be the more difficult task, but he’s got to get his second career slam. He has a good chance to win USO this year. It wouldn’t feel too great if he fails to win it after winning the Montreal-Cincy double. I think he can. I hope he does. Vamos Rafa!

James i would love him to win a second USO,on the other hand i also love Murray too,hes my second favorite,and i would also like him to defend the USO,im torn because i love both,what i actually hope for is that they are on opposite sides of the draw to make it a possibility that they could meet in the final(sigh),having said that im delighted both have a GS this year,and as a Brit it was amazing to see Murray win Wimbledon,and also Rafa winning the FO for the eighth time,cut a long story short if they both meet in the final i will be delighted and also gutted at the same time with whatever the outcome,but i will be even more gutted if neither one wins the title too lol.

Definitely not attacking you, but I’ve always taken Grand Slam (all 4) to be something achieved in one tennis season. And Laver did indeed do that twice. Of course, in Laver’s time, three of the slams were on the same surface, grass, which possibly made it easier.

It’s a strange term “grand slam” because it has to double up to mean “a” slam and also the entire sweep of slams – no wonder confusion is generated. Even so, I take your point. Nadal is by far the best equipped to win 4 slams twice (regardless of number of seasons) simply because his credentials on hard and grass are excellent, whilst so long as he is playing, no one else is likely to win the French.

Thanks Grendel i see what you mean,if Rafa were to win another AO and USO he would indeed have won every GS twice,but i didnt realise that Laver had won all four GS in one year twice,thats quite different and as much as i agree with your earlier posts on the whole GOAT topic you would have to put Laver alongside Federer on that score,or at least a close second,if Rafa were to do the GS twice he wouldnt have done it in a calendar year twice,so he would be third in that conversation probably,this is just my opinion for what its worth.